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Sunday, October 14, 2012

Rumor - Define Jacket Redesign Coming

My colorful Defines. Look, four new ones from 2012 alone.

A reader writes she heard the Define Jacket is being redesigned for Spring 2013. If it's anything like the redesigns on the other items - Flow Y, Power Y, Inspire Crops, triangle gussets in pants, Scuba - then lululemon can keep it. The great majority of the fit tweaks on the core items have been for the worse. The triangle gusset is a disaster. I have to screen out a lot more pant photos than I ever have because of visible CT. The Define has something like a 4.9/5 rating over 553 reviews so it's a well-loved and well-reviewed item. I get moving forward and innovating but to mess with a design that is already nearly perfect is a mistake. I hate to say this but if it's a question of profit, just raise the price. People will pay for great fit and quality. They will not pay the same price for a product that was obviously cheapened (yes, I'm looking at you Scuba Hoodie Stretch).

48 comments:

I guess I don't think the Defines are perfect, had to go up 2 sizes to hide muffin top, & back fat. Here to represent the apple-shaped ladies.. In Strides are more perfect, esp. Without the hood.Also loving the xtra long crbs.

The things I hear about the redesigns are disappointing. I think my husband ordered a newer pair of pants for me for Christmas. I didn't think about it at the time, but if I get them and the triangle gusset makes them...uh, less than desirable, I'm going to be upset (not at him of course). How aggravating.

Noo I love Defines! Supper flattering on me and many others! I have a small waist but athletic shoulders and bigger hips/ thighs so a lot of jackets and hoodies make me look bigger than I am and I'm not a fan :( This one is perfect. In strides look weird on me because of my waist/hip ratio. Not a fan of scubas either- 6 is way too tight on my shoulders but 8 is too baggy everywhere. Sad :(

A friend and I compared black luon purchased in 2012 with 2010 luon and the difference is embarrassing (or at least should be, but we all know that Lulu has become shameless). My luon, which is sized correctly, was sheer when I bent my knee slightly... On the other hand, she had to try incredibly hard to get hers even a tiny bit sheer (which it really wasn't at all). Chip should be ashamed.

I don't know, if the a redesign were to include a changed zipper, I might be a fan. I love the overall design of the Define, but HATE that chunky zipper. If it were more like the smooth one on the In Stride, I might start buying them.

Somehow I don't feel like Lululemon will be making changes that benefit fit such as adding more fabric to create length. All of the changes they have made to core items so far have been for the sole purpose of reducing materials and increasing profit margins.

I love the colors! Makes me wish i had bit the bullet and purchased a define in pow pink or bordeaux...Anyways, although many people are skeptical about lululemons new designs, I'm actually liking the shorter and less stiff scuba (however idk how well itll fare against the winds), and ever since they created the slim groove pants, I have changed my mind about the groove pants completely! I love em now! Idk about the gussets, however, the changes to the inspire crops dont bother me much either

It's funny that I, too, am not crazy over the Defines... But not for muffin top issues. THey are just a little shorter than I prefer for being a taller girl. I love the Strides WITH the hoods! I actually don't like them without.. Glad they appeal to us all, I suppose :)

The first time I tried in a define, I looked like an over stuffed sausage! I'm normally a street 0-2 and a 4 in Lululemon. Then I decided to try again but with a size 6 and I ended up LOVING the fit. I can NOT do the Stride jackets, I'm too short and they do not flatter my 5'3" frame.

That is a bummer if it's true. I had been kicking myself for not jumping on the Angel Blue Define last month and was so excited when I stopped by my store this afternoon, and they had one in my size! But it had sloppy stitching, which was unacceptable. I sadly had to pass. Now I feel even more sad. Why can't they leave the staple designs alone?!

Maybe the re-design would get rid of/fix the Wierd flappy neck lining - that would be awesome - and when they try to match the big chunky zipper to the Luon it always looks Wierd too....so let's see what happens!

I was just about to sell some of my defines on eBay. I think I'll hang onto them. The define is my favorite jacket. I'm tall but like the shorter length because my tanks show at the bottom for some color contrast. They look clean and sharp.

Guess I'll try to pick up another black one ( a staple for me) and keep it for future use.

I am very disappointed in LLL. I'm trying to branch out to other brands. Haven't quite found anything I like ... The search continues.

I find all these "redesigns" simply very frustrating ! I'm glad a have a good size Lulu collection because I simply have not been buying much in the last several months. My last visit to the store I got the Alberta Lake WU pant but I'm still thinking of returning them. They are not as soft as last year's black herringbone WUs. I'm still hoping Lulu will listen and bring back the "old" designs and quality. Not holding my breath but crossing my fingers ! :)

What bothers me is that everyone is freaking out about this new triangle gusset giving them camel toe but the only way you can even get that is if you're not wearing the pants at the intended rise. STOP HIKING YOUR PANTS UP AND YOU WON'T HAVE CT! Jeez

They're taking away my beloved in strides AND likely ruining the define with design changes AND ruining the pants with that horrid triangle gusset? I guess the only think I'll be buying from now on are cool racerbacks. Is no lulu staple safe anymore???? They will be losing big money from me.

I adore the Define jacket and will be most Unhappy if the design is changed. It was my gateway into Lululemon, in fact. I kept spotting women with black Defines, or charcoal, or other colors, and I decided I needed one. I now have five. And I'd be willing to buy more...if the design stays the same. The Stride pulls too much around my hips, as I am slightly pear-shaped (although as a size 4-6, it's not a huge amount). And the Shape jacket was too short. The Define is...or should I say "was" now?...perfect. Don't mess with it, lulu.

Exactly what I am hoping for. If the zipper were changed to that of the In Stride or Shape jacket I'd be thrilled. The chunky zipper really cheapens the look for me. Of course, they'll probably also try to cut costs, so there will be something else to be unhappy about. Happy I like the lulu things I have and don't really need more items.

I contacted Lulu a couple weeks ago about the Tender Violet Bang Buster Headband being narrower than previous colors and the person told me that it wasn't supposed to be, and she was checking with stores to verify. Last week LLA posted about the new BB on the Aussie website and it too looks narrower, and so is the Herringbone Rose, and the description on the website now says 2" wide instead of 5". REALLY LOVE when a company makes me feel like the stupid one. They don't care about customers, they just want the money!!

@anon 4:39am what you are saying about only having ct with the new gusset if you pull your pants up too far is simply untrue. At least for me. I have older pants in the same style with the oval guesset and I know where the pants are supposed to sit, and I also know my correct size. It is the new triangle guesset that causes ct. instead of complaining I no longer buy them if they have the triangle gusset.

I was to the yoga store ONE TOOTH over the weekend. First time ever, to take a peek. A lot of items they are trying to copy lulu...even have knock off defines, hoodies and yoga pants. Their prices are approx. $20-$30 less than Lulu. The store was dead and the 30 mins I was there, no one came into the store. The groove like pants they had, we're def. not as soft as Lulu. their hoodies looked cheap and they had a knock off Flow Y bra, for much cheaper of excellent quality. They also had similar duffle bags, well made, at a fraction of the price. Their styles were nice, but nothing all that exciting caught my eye. They had gorgeous headbands and bang buster like headbands, made in the USA. The girl who waited on me, said everything in the store....was MADE IN CANADA, except for some headbands...which were made in USA. I looked in some items, and def. said MADE IN CANADA.

This sort of begs, the question, WHY can't Lulu make their clothing in Canada....if ONE TOOTH can afford to do it. (Said all items made in Vancouver) maybe too much GREED took over?!- Disposable Income Girl :)

@Anon 6:40 - just because you have to go up 2 sizes in the define so that it "works" for you, DOESN'T mean there is a design issue. it just means that the define jacket is probably not the right cut for you (and that's ok). women come in all different shapes. when you have ALL different shapes, it's going to be impossible for ONE jacket to be perfect for EVERYONE. IMPOSSIBLE. that doesn't mean there's something wrong with the jacket, it just means it doesn't work for you. that's why there are many different jackets....stride look ridiculous on me, they're too baggy in the middle and tight in the hips. not flattering. but they're super flattering on others with different shapes from mine. just because it doesn't work for me doesn't mean there is a design problem...

the define DOES work well on LOTS of women (but not all) so i would say the design of the define is pretty spot-on.

I think the biggest reason why some people get CT is that they buy a size too small and pull it up. Don't you want your bits to air while sweating? I actually think a lot of the problems with the lll quality has to do with manufacturing. it seems that they are always changing the places where the clothes are made.

Wow! You are completely wrong. It's not the hiking of the pants! I purchase two pairs of the summer release and they BOTH caused came toe and one was way worse then the other and I don't hike up my pants! My recent purchase of the dense purple did not cause camel toe but still had the triangle, my point is some times it works and more than other times it does NOT work, do NOT blame people who have purchase LL FOR YEARS and not had camel toe issues until the triangle gusset redesign!

@ anon 4:39 am - when it comes to CT, rise and size are NOT the only things that causes it. I have always been a size 4 in every lulu bottoms, and NEVER had a problem with CT before they changed the gusset in their luon pants to the triangle (the triangle has been used in the luxtreme bottoms for a while and that is fine for me). I don't hike my pants up, and i always wear underwear etc. Camel toe with this gusset is a real problem, I can't believe you are assuming that the hundreds of people who have now commented about this issue are all wearing their pants wrong.

Also, WRITING EVERYTHING IN CAPITAL LETTERS DOESN'T HELP PROVE YOUR POINT, IT JUST MAKES YOU SEEM RUDE AND BITTER. See? Doesn't the overuse of capital letters just make me look mean? Let's not get mean here.

@4:39 I don't agree with your generalization about those of us who have experienced CT are just wearing our pants incorrectly. If you have two pair of pants the same size and style and all else is equal with the exception of the gusset (one give CT and the othe does not) how do you explain the CT issues away as the wearer not wearing their pants correctly? If only it were that simple.

I think the main reason for LLL redesigning all the core items is because they want to keep the reseller market hot. They need people to keep buying stuff from ebay/FB so that the people they call "luluheads" can keep selling and make room to buy the new stuff.

Problem is...you bet I'll be clinging onto my old stuff for dear life as the new designs are just not as great as the old.

OT - Zobha just opened their own store in northern CA. Very pretty store, all mannequins are based on christy turlington's body. In all honesty a breath of fresh air from LLL stores. Their designs are more subdued and often more sophisticated but runs smaller than LLL in my experience.

@LuluAddict - Why do you screen the pics for CT? I would actually prefer to know if a particular pant causes it more than others and the web models are rarely a good indication. I've bought some (very few) triangle gussets that actually did work for me so it seems to depend on the product / manufacture location / material etc.

and to the ladies blaming the CT on hiking your pants up? nope. It really is a design issue. When one pair of WUs in the same size causes CT and the other does not (on the same body), that is a design issue.

An educator told me that the triangle gusset will be gone by sprint 2013. She also said that there 'could' be design changes to the define in spring 2013 as well :(

we should not respond to 4:39 i think this person might be new to lulu b/c i have tons of pants from lulu and the CT issue only recently started happening (with the triangle gusset). in spite of that person's views CT is a major issue as it is unsightly and uncomfortable. it's insulting for a person to suggest that suddenly women who are intelligent and have previously known how to put their pants on are now confused and "hiking" their pants up too far... really?

It's just now occurring to me that I my have the opposite problem... Last year with the oval gusset I was buying size 6, always had it folding in half and looking terrible. I wonder if they were too big. This year with triangle gusset I purchased size 4, no problems. Hmm. Plus, I don't understand why people are only complaining about the triangle in the Luon items, when Luxtreme pants have had the triangle for ages... If they switch back to the oval gusset I guess I won't be purchasing any of them, unless I was wearing them too large. Sounds like I'm the only one that prefers the triangle!

The camel toe issue is a hit and miss with the triangle gussets. My dense purple pair is fine but others I've tried or not. The Inspire crops and other luxtreme crops have always had the triangle and no issues there. Why change a good thing though? I don't remember anyone complaining before with the diamond gusset. My big problem is the lower fabric quality. It is much thinner and less compressive. I compared my older pair (from January this year) to the newer ones and it is really quite shameful on Lululemon's part! My older pair actually look smaller at first but when I put them on it's IMPOSSIBLE to make them see through, even a tiny bit. Newer ones look see through without even bending over and they are even a tad loose on me since they aren't as compressive.

It would be great if they bring back the Define - I love the style. We have an eBay Store with many Defines in different colours and sizes and are going cheaply. We are based in Australia www.skyfitlife.comCheck out the eBay store http://stores.ebay.com.au/Sky-Fit-Life

About Me

For 18 years I was an electrical engineer working in communications satellite system engineering. I've worked at Boeing, Booz, Allen & Hamilton, and General Electric. For the past ten years I've been a stay at home mom who keeps busy volunteering in my community and chauffeuring my three children to their activities. I live in Orange County, California.

The inaugural Sea Wheeze inspired me to take up running two years ago. I have completed ten half marathons and have three more scheduled for 2015. I mostly run these days but also go to the gym ~3-4 days a week for spin class, weight lifting, and cardio.

I discovered Lululemon six years ago and really liked the fit and performance of the clothes. I do check out other brands so if you would like me to review your product please contact me.

If you would like to contact me, my email address is lululemonaddict@gmail.com.